按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Now Neald popped out of the gateway； stroking his ridiculous mustache and preening for anyone who might be watching as the opening vanished。 No one was； and he climbed onto his horse with a disgruntled expression。
Mounting Stepper； Perrin rode to a slight rise。 Not everyone could see him because of the trees； but it was enough they could hear。 A stir ran through the assemblage as he reined in； people shifting for a better look。
〃As far as anyone's eyes…and…ears back in Cairhien know；〃 he said loudly； 〃I've been banished； the First of Mayene is on her way back home； and the rest of you have just disappeared like fog in the sun。〃
To his surprise； they laughed。 A cry of 〃Perrin Goldeneyes〃 went up； and not just from the Two Rivers folk。 He waited for it to quiet； that took a while。 Faile neither laughed nor shouted； nor did Berelain。 Each woman shook her head； neither believed he should tell as much as he intended to。 Then they saw each other； and those shaking heads froze as if trapped in amber。 They did not like agreeing。 It was no surprise when their eyes swung to him with identical expressions。 There was an old saying in the Two Rivers； though how you said it and what you meant depended on circumstance and who you were。 〃It's always a man's fault。〃 One thing； he had learned； women were better at than anything else： teaching a man to sigh。
〃Some of you may be wondering where we are； and why；〃 he went on when silence fell at last。 A smaller ripple of laughter。 〃This is Ghealdan。〃 Murmurs of awe； and maybe disbelief； at having crossed fifteen hundred miles or more in a step。 〃The first thing we have to do is convince Queen Alliandre we aren't here to invade。〃 Berelain was supposed to talk to Alliandre； and Faile was going to give him fits for it。 〃Then we're going to find a fellow who calls himself the Prophet of the Lord Dragon。〃 That would not be much pleasure； either； Masema had been no joy before he tipped over the edge。 〃This Prophet has been causing some problems； but we're going to let him know Rand al'Thor doesn't want anybody frightened into following him； and we'll take him and any of his people who want to e back to the Lord Dragon。〃 And we'll frighten the breeches off Masema to do it if need be； he though wryly。
They cheered。 They whooped and shouted that they would march this Prophet back to Cairhien for the Lord Dragon till Perrin hoped this spot was even farther from any village than it was supposed to be。 Even the cart drivers and horse handlers joined in。 More than that； he prayed that everything went smoothly； and quickly。 The sooner he could put as much distance as possible between Berelain and himself and Faile； the better。 No surprises； that was what he wanted once they rode south。 It was about time his being ta'veren showed itself good for something。
Chapter 28
（Dice）
Bread and Cheese
Mat knew he was in trouble from the day he moved into the Tarasin Palace。 He could have refused。 Just because the flaming dice started or stopped did not mean he had to do anything； usually when they stopped spinning； it was too late not to do something。 The problem was； he wanted to know why。 Before very many days； he wished he had taken his curiosity by the throat and throttled it。
After Nynaeve and Elayne left his room； once he could manage to reach his feet without his head falling off； he spread the word among his men。 Nobody seemed to see the disadvantages。 He just wanted to prepare them； but nobody listened。
〃Very good； my Lord；〃 Nerim murmured； tugging Mat's boot onto his foot。 〃My Lord will finally have decent rooms。 Oh； very good。〃 For a moment； he seemed to lose his mournful expression。 For just a moment。 〃I will brush the red silk coat for my Lord； my Lord has stained the blue rather badly with wine。〃 Mat waited impatiently； put on the coat； and headed down the hall。
〃Aes Sedai？〃 Nalesean muttered as his head popped out at the top of a clean shut。 His round…bellied manservant； Lopin； was hovering behind him。 〃Burn my soul； I don't much like Aes Sedai； but。。。 The Tarasin Palace； Mat。〃
Mat winced； bad enough the man could drink a barrel of brandy with no effect the next morning； but did he have to grin so？ 〃Ah； Mat； now we can forget dice； and play cards with our own kind。〃 He meant nobles； the only ones who could afford to play except for well…to…do merchants who would not remain well…to…do long if they began betting for the stakes nobles did。 Nalesean rubbed his hands briskly while Lopin tried to settle his laces； even his beard seemed eager。 〃Silk sheets；〃 he murmured。 Whoever heard of silk sheets？ Those old memories nudged； but Mat refused to listen。
〃Full of nobles；〃 Vanin growled downstairs； pursing his lips to spit。 His glance searching for Mistress Anan was automatic now； he decided instead to swallow from the mug of rough wine that was his breakfast。 〃Be good to see the Lady Elayne again； though；〃 he mused。 His free hand rose as if to knuckle his forehead； he did not seem aware of the gesture。 Mat groaned。 That woman had ruined a good man。 〃You want me to look in on Carridin again？〃 Vanin went on as if the rest was unimportant。 〃His street's so full of beggars； it's hard to see anything； but he has an awful lot of folk e to call。〃 Mat told him that would be fine。 No wonder Vanin did not care whether the palace was full of 。nobles and Aes Sedai； he would spend the day sweating in the sun and jostled by the crowds。 Much more fortable。
There was no point trying to warn Harnan and the rest of the Redarms； all shoveling down white porridge and tiny black sausages while they nudged one another in the ribs and laughed about the serving women in the palace； who； they had heard； were all chosen for their beauty and remarkably free with their favors。 A true fact； they kept assuring themselves。
Things did not get any better when he went into the kitchens searching for Mistress Anan to settle the bill。 Caira was there； but with all her bad temper of the night before doubled； she stuck out her lower lip； glowering at him； and stalked out the door to the stableyard rubbing the back of her skirt。 Maybe she had gotten herself into some misery or other； but how she could blame Mat Cauthon was beyond him。
Mistress Anan was out； it seemed … she was always organizing soup kitchens for refugees or leaping into some other good work … but Enid was waving a long wooden spoon at her scurrying helpers and ready to take his coin in her stout hand。 〃You squeeze too many melons； my young Lord； and you shouldn't be surprised when a rotten one breaks in your hand；〃 she said darkly for some reason。 〃Or two；〃 she added after a moment； nodding。 She leaned close； tilting up her sweating round face with an intent stare。 〃You'll only make trouble for yourself if you say a word。 You won't。〃 That did not sound like a question。
〃Not a word；〃 Mat said。 What in the Light was she talking about？ It seemed the right response； though； because she nodded and waddled away waving that spoon twice as vigorously as before。 For a moment； he had thought she meant to thump him with it。 The pure truth was； women all had a violent streak； not just some of them。
One thing and another； it was a relief when Nerim and Lopin got into a shouting match over whose master's baggage would be carried over first。 Smoothing their feathers required a good half an hour from him and Nalesean both。 A manservant with his dander ruffled could make your life miserable。 Then he had to settle which of the Redarms were to have the honor of lugging the chest of gold across and which were to take the horses。 Anyway； it was that much longer outside the bloody Tarasin Palace。
Once he was ensconced in his new rooms； though； he almost forgot troubles at first。 He had a large sitting room and a small； what they called a sulking room hereabouts； and an immense bedchamber with the biggest bed he had ever seen； the massive bedposts carved with entwined flowers of all things； and painted red。 Most of the furniture was bright red or bright blue； where it was not layered with gilt。 A small door near the bed led to a cramped room for Nerim； which the fellow seemed to think was excellent despite a narrow bed and no window。 Mat's rooms all had tall arched windows letting onto white wrought…iron balconies that overlooked the Mol Hara。 The stand…lamps were gilded； and so were the mirror frames； there were two mirrors in the sulking room； three in the sitting room； and four in the bedchamber。 The clock … a clock！ … on the marble mantel above the fireplace in the sitting room sparkled with gilt； as well。 The washbasin and pitcher were red Sea Folk porcelain。 He was almost disappointed to discover that the chamber pot under the bed was only plain white pottery。 There was even a shelf in the large sitting room with a full dozen books。 Not that he read much。
Even given the jarring colors of walls and ceilings and floor tiles； the rooms shouted rich。 Any other time； he would have danced a jig。 Any time when he was not aware that a woman with chambers right down the hall wanted to stick him in hot water and put a bellows to the fire。 If Teslyn or Merilille or one of that lot did not manage it first despite his medallion。 Why had the dice in his head stopped tumbling as soon as Elayne mentioned these bloody rooms？ Curiosity。 He had heard a saying on several women's lips back home； usually when he had done something that looked fun at the time。 〃Men teach cats curiosity； but cats keep sense for themselves。〃
〃I'm no bloody cat；〃 he muttered； stalking out of the bedchamber into the sitting room。 He just had to know； that was all。
〃Of course you're not a cat；〃 Tylin said。 〃You're a succulent little duckling； is what you are。〃
Mat gave a start and stared。 Duckling？ And a little duckling； at that！ The woman stood well short of his shoulder。 Indignation or no indignation； he managed an elegant bow anyway。 She was the Queen； he had to remember that。 〃Majesty； thank you for these wonderful apartments。 I'd love to talk with you； but I have to go out and … 〃
Smiling； she advanced across the red…and…green floor tiles； layered blue and white silk petticoats swishing； large dark eyes fixed on him。 He had no desire at all to look at the marriage knife nestled in her generous cleavage。 Or the larger； gem…studded dagger thrust behind an equally gem…studded belt。 He backed away。
〃Majesty； I have an important … 〃
She started humming。 He recognized the tune； he had hummed it to a few girls lately。 He was wise enough not to try actually singing with his voice； and besides； the words they used in Ebou Dar would have singed his ears。 Around here； they called it 〃I Will Steal Your Breath with Kisses。〃
Laughing nervously； he tried to put a lapis…inlaid table between them； but she somehow got around it first without seeming to increase her speed。 〃Majesty； I … 〃
She laid a hand flat on his chest； back…heeled him into a high…backed chair； and plumped herself down on his lap。 Between her and the chair arms； he was trapped。 Oh； he could have picked her up and set her on her feet quite easily。 Except that she did have that bloody big dagger in her belt； and he doubted his manhandling her would be as acceptable to her as her manhandling him seemed to be。 This was Ebou Dar； after all； where a woman killing a man was justified until proven otherwise。 He could have picked her up easily； except。。。
He had seen fishmongers in the city selling peculiar creatures called squid and octopus … Ebou Dari actually ate the things！ … but they had nothing on Tylin。 The woman possessed ten hands。 He thrashed about； vainly trying to fend her off； and she laughed softly。 Between kisses； he breathlessly protested that someone might walk in； and she just chuckled。 He babbled his respect for her crown； and she chortled。 He claimed betrothal to a girl back home who held his heart in her hands。 She really laughed at that。
〃What she does not know cannot harm her；〃 she murmured； her twenty hands not slowing for an instant。
Someone knocked at the door。
Prying his mouth free； he shouted； 〃Who is it？〃 Well； it was a shout。 A high…pitched shout。 He was o